Wenger urges Arsenal fans not to 'go overboard' after Gunners' defeat at Stoke

There were no planes towing ‘Wenger out’ banners, but this still felt like a throwback to the bad old days of last season.

Arsenal’s frailties were laid bare and they were weak in defence and wasteful in attack.

Arsene Wenger, his back against the wall literally and metaphorically in the corridor outside the press room, put up a stouter defence than his backline had mustered as he tried to argue to the contrary.

He claimed there was no need to return to the negativity which gripped Arsenal last season, insisting there are still many positives.

“Let’s not go overboard,” said the Arsenal boss. “We lost one game. I can understand that (negativity), but overall I believe there were a lot of positives in the game as well because we created many chances.